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State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: June 23, 2025

May CT jobless rate rises one-tenth to 3.8%; jobs drop 6,500 in strike impacted month

WETHERSFIELD,  June 23, 2025 - Connecticut nonfarm employment fell 6,500 jobs (-0.4%) in May 2025, to a level of 1,710,100, while the state's unemployment rate was up one-tenth of one percent to 3.8% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). Nonfarm industry payrolls in the state are just 1,800 (0.1%) positions higher than a year ago (1,708,300). The large April 2025 preliminary job increase of 6,900 (0.5%) was reduced by 2,100 to a 4,800 jobs gain (0.3%) on the routine monthly revision. This month's job decline was the state's biggest since April 2020 (Covid lockdown) although it was affected by a large strike (-3,000) that returns next month. The May 2025 preliminary Connecticut jobless rate, figured at 3.8%, is up one-tenth of one percent from April 2025 (3.7%) and higher by seven-tenths of one percent from a year ago (3.1%) but remains below the U.S. average for the 29th consecutive month. This labor statistics release displays current estimated data from two different monthly surveys (residential and establishment) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in partnership with the states. "One-time events, most significantly a labor dispute, contributed to May's decline" said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "So far this year the employment picture has been mixed, consistent with an economy that is growing but growing slower than the rapid pace following the COVID lockdown."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment was also lower by 6,500 positions (-0.4%) in May 2025 to 1,475,200 and is now up just 2,200 jobs (0.1%) from the May 2024 level of 1,473,000. April's preliminary private sector gain of 6,800 jobs (0.5%) was adjusted lower by 1,900 to a 4,900 gain (0.3%). The full government supersector was unchanged in May to a level of 234,900 jobs and is now lower by 400 (-0.2%) positions over the year. Connecticut's combined government supersector consists of all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations. Two of the ten major industry supersectors gained jobs in May 2025, while six supersectors declined and the Government and Information supersectors were unchanged. The four industry supersectors that increased employment or were unchanged in May 2025 included: Construction & Mining +900 1.4% 63,600 Leisure & Hospitality +200 0.1% 155,600 Government unchanged 0.0% 234,900 Information unchanged 0.0% 30,500 The six industry supersectors that lost jobs in May 2025 were: Manufacturing -3,600 -2.3% 150,700 Trade, Transportation & Utilities -1,800 -0.6% 300,200 Professional and Business Services -1,700 -0.8% 220,400 Other Services -300 -0.5% 63,400 Financial Activities -100 -0.1% 119,200 Education & Health Services -100 -0.03% 371,600

NONFARM  EMPLOYMENT Jobs - by Place of Work CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted May April March February May Over Month Over Year  2025 P 2025 R 2025 2025 2024 Change Rate   Change  Rate   CONNECTICUT   1,710,100 1,716,600 1,711,800 1,715,900 1,708,300 -6,500 -0.4%   1,800 0.1% Total Private 1,475,200 1,481,700 1,476,800 1,481,400 1,473,000 -6,500 -0.4% 2,200 0.1% Goods Producing Industries   Mining 500 500 500 500 500 0 0.0% 0 0.0%   Construction   63,100 62,200 61,900 62,200 63,100 900 1.4%   0 0.0%   Manufacturing 150,700 154,300 154,400 154,700 156,600 -3,600 -2.3% -5,900 -3.8%     Durable Goods   117,300 121,000 121,200 121,600 122,800 -3,700 -3.1%   -5,500 -4.5%     Nondurable Goods 33,400 33,300 33,200 33,100 33,800 100 0.3% -400 -1.2% Service Providing Industries   Trade, Transportation & Utilities 300,200 302,000 300,400 299,900 299,600 -1,800 -0.6%   600 0.2%     Wholesale 62,000 61,900 61,400 61,300 60,800 100 0.2% 1,200 2.0%     Retail     164,600 166,700 165,600 164,800 166,500 -2,100 -1.3%   -1,900 -1.1%     Transp, Warehousing & Utilities 73,600 73,400 73,400 73,800 72,300 200 0.3% 1,300 1.8%   Information   30,500 30,500 30,500 30,400 30,900 0 0.0%   -400 -1.3%   Financial Activities 119,200 119,300 119,600 119,500 117,900 -100 -0.1% 1,300 1.1%     Finance & Insurance 99,300 99,300 99,600 99,400 98,300 0 0.0%   1,000 1.0%     Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 19,900 20,000 20,000 20,100 19,600 -100 -0.5% 300 1.5%   Professional & Business Services 220,400 222,100 220,000 221,800 221,100 -1,700 -0.8%   -700 -0.3%     Prof, Scientific & Tech Services 101,300 102,300 101,700 101,700 101,200 -1,000 -1.0% 100 0.1%     Management of Companies  30,800 30,900 30,900 30,800 31,100 -100 -0.3%   -300 -1.0%     Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv 88,300 88,900 87,400 89,300 88,800 -600 -0.7% -500 -0.6%   Educational & Health Services 371,600 371,700 370,200 372,300 364,800 -100 0.0%   6,800 1.9%     Private Educational Services 74,000 74,200 72,600 74,700 73,400 -200 -0.3% 600 0.8%     Health Care & Social Assistance 297,600 297,500 297,600 297,600 291,400 100 0.0%   6,200 2.1%   Leisure and Hospitality 155,600 155,400 155,400 155,900 154,600 200 0.1% 1,000 0.6%     Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 27,800 27,600 27,500 27,600 28,900 200 0.7%   -1,100 -3.8%     Accommodation & Food Services 127,800 127,800 127,900 128,300 125,700 0 0.0% 2,100 1.7%   Other Services   63,400 63,700 63,900 64,200 63,900 -300 -0.5%   -500 -0.8%   Government** 234,900 234,900 235,000 234,500 235,300 0 0.0% -400 -0.2% UNITED STATES      159,561,000 159,422,000 159,275,000 159,155,000 157,635,000 139,000 0.1%   1,926,000 1.2%

Note: The new five major Connecticut LMAs are independently estimated from the statewide data by the BLS and cover over 93% of the nonfarm employment in the state. As a result, estimates will not exactly sum to the statewide total. Furthermore, monthly Seasonal Adjustment (SA) on these 5 new designated COG-based labor markets may undergo some shifting seasonality effects due to the concurrent seasonal process exaggerating some movements on the new geographies due to the lack of more precise historical seasonal factors (because the metros are new).

Hours and Earnings: The May 2025 Private Sectoraverage work week, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.4 hours (AWH). This is unchanged from the May 2024 average (0.0%, 33.4). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $38.88 in May 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.20 (3.2%) from the May 2024 estimate of $37.68. The resultant May 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE) were estimated at $1,298.59, higher by $40.08 (3.2%) from a year ago ($1,258.51). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted - all items index) for May 2025 was up 2.4% from a year ago.

AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS    AVG WEEKLY HOURS   AVG HOURLY EARNINGS May CHG Apr             May CHG Apr               May CHG Apr (Not seasonally adjusted) 2025 2024 Y/Y 2025 2025 2024 Y/Y 2025 2025 2024 Y/Y 2025 PRODUCTION WORKER                         MANUFACTURING $1,182.55 $1,206.14 -$23.60 $1,205.29 40.1 38.4 1.7 39.7 $29.49 $31.41 -$1.92 $30.36  DURABLE GOODS 1,226.57 1,279.84 -53.27 1,255.69 39.1 38.0 1.1 38.9 31.37 33.68 -2.31 32.28  NON-DUR. GOODS 1,057.68 999.11 58.57 1,064.71 42.7 39.6 3.1 42.1 24.77 25.23 -0.46 25.29 CONSTRUCTION 1,514.86 1,499.52 15.34 1,554.98 38.1 38.4 -0.3 38.3 39.76 39.05 0.71 40.60 ALL EMPLOYEES                         STATEWIDE TOTAL PRIVATE 1,298.59 1,258.51 40.08 1,300.37 33.4 33.4 0.0 33.3 38.88 37.68 1.20 39.05 GOODS PRODUCING 1,528.89 1,498.46 30.43 1,528.55 37.9 38.7 -0.8 38.3 40.34 38.72 1.62 39.91    Construction 1,585.34 1,533.40 51.94 1,587.26 36.8 37.3 -0.5 37.4 43.08 41.11 1.97 42.44    Manufacturing 1,453.06 1,444.52 8.54 1,469.25 38.4 38.8 -0.4 38.9 37.84 37.23 0.61 37.77 SERVICE PROVIDING 1,258.03 1,217.45 40.58 1,263.28 32.6 32.5 0.1 32.5 38.59 37.46 1.13 38.87    Trade, Transp., Utilities 1,024.64 968.63 56.01 1,015.99 32.0 31.8 0.2 31.7 32.02 30.46 1.56 32.05    Financial Activities 2,162.36 2,201.63 -39.27 2,114.75 36.7 37.5 -0.8 36.6 58.92 58.71 0.21 57.78    Prof. & Business Serv. 1,568.91 1,579.85 -10.94 1,581.75 36.2 35.8 0.4 35.9 43.34 44.13 -0.79 44.06    Education & Health Ser. 1,199.55 1,137.74 61.81 1,197.89 33.0 32.6 0.4 32.9 36.35 34.90 1.45 36.41    Leisure & Hospitality 633.00 610.17 22.83 646.80 25.9 25.8 0.1 26.4 24.44 23.65 0.79 24.50    Other Services 838.25 919.59 -81.34 857.49 28.3 30.2 -1.9 28.3 29.62 30.45 -0.83 30.30 LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury 1,330.81 1,280.20 50.61 1,328.97 32.9 32.6 0.3 33.1 40.45 39.27 1.18 40.15    Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford 1,279.03 1,292.17 -13.14 1,283.90 33.5 33.8 -0.3 33.4 38.18 38.23 -0.05 38.44    New Haven 1,234.71 1,175.23 59.48 1,266.53 33.2 32.6 0.6 33.4 37.19 36.05 1.14 37.92    Norwich-New London-Willimantic 1,150.83 1,091.08 59.75 1,171.95 32.2 32.1 0.1 32.5 35.74 33.99 1.75 36.06    Waterbury-Shelton 1,160.76 1,084.69 76.07 1,165.88 34.1 33.1 1.0 34.1 34.04 32.77 1.27 34.19 Note: Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses..

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in May, after rising 0.2 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent in May and was the primary factor in the all items monthly increase. The food index increased 0.3 percent as both of its major components, the index for food at home and the index for food away from home also rose 0.3 percent in May. In contrast, the energy index declined 1.0 percent in May as the gasoline index fell over the month. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May, following a 0.2-percent increase in April. Indexes that increased over the month include medical care, motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings and operations, personal care, and education. The indexes for airline fares, used cars and trucks, new vehicles, and apparel were among the major indexes that decreased in May. The all items index rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending May, after rising 2.3 percent over the 12 months ending April. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 3.5 percent for the 12 months ending May. The food index increased 2.9 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary May 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.8% (seasonally adjusted). This is up one-tenth of a percentage point from April 2025 (3.7%). CT's unemployment rate is up seven-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago (3.1%). The U.S. unemployment rate for May 2025 was 4.2%, unchanged from the April 2025 rate (4.2%) but higher over the year from 4.0% in May 2024.

Month 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. CT U.S. Jan  5.3 4.8 -0.5 4.6 4.7 0.1 4.2 4.0 -0.2 3.7 4.0 0.3 3.8 3.6 -0.2 7.2 6.4 -0.8 4.8 4.0 -0.8 3.4 3.5 0.1 3.3 3.7 0.4 3.3 4.0 0.7 Feb  5.2 4.9 -0.3 4.5 4.6 0.1 4.2 4.1 -0.1 3.6 3.8 0.2 3.8 3.5 -0.3 7.2 6.2 -1.0 4.6 3.8 -0.8 3.3 3.6 0.3 3.2 3.9 0.7 3.4 4.1 0.7 Mar  5.1 5.0 -0.1 4.5 4.4 -0.1 4.1 4.0 -0.1 3.5 3.8 0.3 3.9 4.4 0.5 7.2 6.1 -1.1 4.4 3.7 -0.7 3.2 3.5 0.3 3.2 3.9 0.7 3.6 4.2 0.6 Apr  5.0 5.1 0.1 4.5 4.4 -0.1 4.0 4.0 0.0 3.5 3.7 0.2 8.3 14.8 6.5 7.2 6.1 -1.1 4.3 3.7 -0.6 3.1 3.4 0.3 3.1 3.9 0.8 3.7 4.2 0.5 May  5.0 4.8 -0.2 4.4 4.4 0.0 3.9 3.8 -0.1 3.5 3.6 0.1 11.9 13.2 1.3 7.0 5.8 -1.2 4.2 3.6 -0.6 3.1 3.6 0.5 3.1 4.0 0.9 3.8 4.2 0.4 Jun  4.9 4.9 0.0 4.4 4.3 -0.1 3.9 4.0 0.1 3.5 3.6 0.1 11.5 11.0 -0.5 7.0 5.9 -1.1 4.0 3.6 -0.4 3.0 3.6 0.6 3.1 4.1 1.0 Jul  4.8 4.8 0.0 4.4 4.3 -0.1 3.8 3.8 0.0 3.5 3.7 0.2 11.7 10.2 -1.5 6.6 5.4 -1.2 3.9 3.5 -0.4 3.1 3.5 0.4 3.1 4.2 1.1 Aug  4.7 4.9 0.2 4.4 4.4 0.0 3.8 3.8 0.0 3.6 3.6 0.0 9.6 8.4 -1.2 6.3 5.1 -1.2 3.7 3.6 -0.1 3.1 3.7 0.6 3.2 4.2 1.0 Sep  4.7 5.0 0.3 4.3 4.3 0.0 3.8 3.7 -0.1 3.6 3.5 -0.1 8.8 7.8 -1.0 5.9 4.7 -1.2 3.7 3.5 -0.2 3.2 3.8 0.6 3.2 4.1 0.9 Oct  4.6 4.9 0.3 4.3 4.2 -0.1 3.7 3.8 0.1 3.6 3.6 0.0 7.9 6.9 -1.0 5.6 4.5 -1.1 3.7 3.6 -0.1 3.3 3.9 0.6 3.2 4.1 0.9 Nov  4.6 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.2 -0.1 3.7 3.8 0.1 3.7 3.6 -0.1 7.5 6.7 -0.8 5.3 4.2 -1.1 3.6 3.6 0.0 3.3 3.7 0.4 3.2 4.2 1.0 Dec  4.6 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.1 -0.2 3.7 3.9 0.2 3.7 3.6 -0.1 7.4 6.7 -0.7 5.0 3.9 -1.1 3.5 3.5 0.0 3.3 3.8 0.5 3.2 4.1 0.9 The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.  Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed Average weekly initial unemployment claims (not seasonally adjusted) for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut for May 2025 were 2,423. This is 899 (-27.1%) claims lower than April 2025 (3,322) but just slightly higher by 92 claims (3.9%) than the May 2024 (2,331) level. Month  2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Labor Force Resident Emp. Resident Unemp. Jan   1,928.9 1,858.3 70.6 1,938.8 1,865.6 73.3 1,811.7 1,680.9 130.8 1,952.9 1,859.1 93.8 1,905.2 1,840.3 64.9 1,926.9 1,863.3 63.6 1,957.3 1,893.4 63.8 Feb   1,928.1 1,858.6 69.5 1,933.3 1,858.9 74.4 1,809.0 1,678.7 130.2 1,948.9 1,860.0 88.9 1,905.5 1,842.7 62.8 1,929.7 1,867.2 62.5 1,957.1 1,890.7 66.4 Mar   1,927.2 1,859.0 68.2 1,927.1 1,851.7 75.4 1,807.6 1,678.0 129.6 1,944.4 1,859.6 84.8 1,906.3 1,845.3 61.0 1,933.0 1,871.5 61.4 1,956.4 1,886.9 69.5 Apr   1,927.0 1,859.8 67.2 1,830.8 1,678.9 151.9 1,808.7 1,678.3 130.4 1,940.4 1,857.6 82.8 1,907.5 1,848.0 59.5 1,936.4 1,875.6 60.8 1,960.1 1,888.0 72.2 May   1,928.0 1,861.3 66.7 1,905.1 1,679.3 225.8 1,806.6 1,679.6 127.0 1,934.9 1,854.3 80.6 1,909.0 1,850.5 58.5 1,939.9 1,879.4 60.5 1,960.1 1,885.9 74.3 Jun   1,930.2 1,863.4 66.9 1,896.4 1,678.4 218.0 1,828.9 1,701.8 127.1 1,927.7 1,849.7 78.0 1,911.1 1,853.0 58.1 1,943.0 1,882.4 60.5 Jul   1,933.2 1,865.4 67.8 1,905.1 1,682.8 222.3 1,845.4 1,723.3 122.1 1,919.6 1,844.6 75.0 1,913.8 1,855.2 58.6 1,946.1 1,885.1 60.9 Aug   1,936.3 1,867.3 68.9 1,864.0 1,685.3 178.7 1,863.2 1,745.5 117.7 1,911.6 1,840.2 71.5 1,916.3 1,856.6 59.7 1,949.5 1,888.0 61.5 Sep   1,939.2 1,869.4 69.8 1,852.5 1,689.0 163.5 1,878.9 1,767.3 111.6 1,908.9 1,837.4 71.5 1,918.5 1,857.3 61.3 1,952.8 1,890.8 62.0 Oct   1,941.6 1,871.0 70.5 1,833.0 1,688.5 144.5 1,897.6 1,790.5 107.2 1,907.0 1,836.3 70.7 1,920.5 1,857.8 62.7 1,955.4 1,893.0 62.4 Nov   1,943.0 1,871.6 71.3 1,824.6 1,687.0 137.6 1,915.0 1,813.5 101.5 1,905.8 1,836.6 69.2 1,922.4 1,858.7 63.7 1,955.9 1,893.4 62.5 Dec   1,942.2 1,869.9 72.3 1,819.8 1,684.2 135.6 1,934.2 1,836.5 97.6 1,905.4 1,838.2 67.1 1,924.5 1,860.4 64.1 1,955.6 1,893.2 62.5 The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value. Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, July 17, 2025 (Preliminary June 2025 data)

State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109 LMI Home | CTDOL Home | Feedback | This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. (more)

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